XP Home vs Professional

[Leeza]

I'm currently using Windows ME, but it keeps crashing on me and I keep getting the KERNEL32 errors and all sorts of other errors, so I want to go to a new OS. I would like to know the main differences between Home and Professional. If anyone here is using either of these right now, could they please give me their opinions, and whether or not they are happy with what they have?

[Yamaneko]

Differences between Home and Pro.

I have XP Pro and I enjoy using it. It's good because it's the most compatible with most of the new software. And it hasn't crashed on me in almost a year since I got a valid CD key. I recommend it.

[Erdrick Holmes]

Get XP pro, it's better.

Oh btw anyone ever hear of Windows 2003? Its like 2000 in almost every way but more organized and get this you'll never see a blue screen of death again.

(SPOILER) It's gonna be a red screen instead

[Dr Unne]

One difference is the registration process. Home has a draconian registration process which limits the number of times you can install it. If you have to format your HD one day or even if you change a piece of hardware Windows can decide that you're a thief and not let you install it any more. Professional isn't quite so bad from what I know. Professional lets you use NTFS filesystem which is a bit better than FAT32. I don't know if Home lets you use NTFS or not, but it's no big deal. There are very few other differences that I know of, other than a huge price difference. I have Pro and I was pretty happy with it, but I got it for free. I'd never pay for it.

[Big Ogre Umaro]

Home allows NTFS, which made my life a little better when I found that out. I'm waiting to have a problem with the registration thingy before I can comment on that, but I don't plan on modifying or reformatting any time soon, so y'know.

All-in-all, I rather like it. The OS crashed ONCE in four months, which is more than I expected this early but much less than any other version of Windows I've used. It's got some cute features and fun times, y'know.

[Dr Unne]

XP is definitely way better than any other version of Windows I used, I'll give it that. Much much less crash-prone.

[Leeza]

<i>And it hasn't crashed on me in almost a year since I got a valid CD key.</i> - Yamaneko

What's a CD key?

I guess they both sound good, but looking at the differences between Home and Pro, it doesn't look like I'd need any of the extra features of the Pro version. I guess I have to weight the registration thingie over how much the cost difference will be between the two versions to make my decision.

[Yamaneko]

Originally posted by Leeza
What's a CD key?

The registration key that comes with the retail version of Windows XP. If you have an invalid key and you try to install the service pack update, it'll disable Windows. I had to find a valid key (it's a string of like 25 numbers), then edit some file in the registry and enter the new key so I could update Windows. That's what I get for not buying Windows, it's worth it though (no pun intended).

[Erdrick Holmes]

The disc that came with my Windows XP pro had keys with it is it possbile for keys to expire? Is there a possbile way for me to change the key and how?

[Dr Unne]

<i>That's what I get for not buying Windows, it's worth it though (no pun intended).</i> --Yamaneko

Buying? You mean "renting". Even if you pay for a license, you don't own Windows, you rent it and you get to use it until MS tells you you can't any longer. Pretty soon MS will be instituting a policy where you have to renew your license every year. At least for businesses, not sure for home users or not, but probably. You don't own your software.

[crono_logical]

I use XP Pro too. Win2k with service pack 3 is nice too though, and much faster than XP, but it's not as compatible with older stuff than XP. I've got a copy of Win2k3, but yet to install and test it out, but from what I've heard, that's just as slow if not slower than XP, and awkward to configure to a usable state for normal users

If you get a legit copy of WinXP, no, the key on the case shouldn't ever expire, although you'll have to "activate" Windows still, I believe (activation isn't something I know much about though )


I've had XP crash on me a few times the past 1 1/2 years, but that's usually due to me overloading the system (memory-wise, not amount of programs-wise since I run 30 odd things at once including emulators with no problem) by trying to do too much at once after having the PC on and being constantly used for weeks on end anyway - so yes, it's far more stable then other Windows I've tried (except 2k, which I don't know too much about)

[Dr Unne]

When is Windows 2003 or Longhorn or whatever it's called coming out? I think 2004. Maybe you should wait for that, Leeza. Or not. I don't know what that'll be like. It'd be terrible to pay for XP and then have to pay for 2003 right away.

[Yamaneko]

Yeah, Longhorn looks promising. Supposedly you'll be able to use software (games specifically) right out of the box without installing them. It's due out Fall 2004.

[Shlup]

You people talk as if you can't get both for free.

[Dr Unne]

I can get them LEGALLY for free from college, but I don't know if Leeza wants to become a thief like the lot of us.